A gentle mystery set in 1960s Oxford but with a topical issue at its core. A beauty contestant is presumed to have committed suicide but WPC Trudy Ryder's friend Grace thinks there's something more so Trudy persuades (and it doesn't take much) her friend the coroner to look further. This could have been more a social commentary on how female police (Trudy is the only one) were treated in the 1960s but Martin instead has her go undercover at the pageant to find out the truth. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No fireworks here but still a good read.

I'm sorry for having to say it, but this is the first Faith Martin title that I couldn't bring myself to finish.
I really love the Hillary Greene series; I think the Jenny Starling series comes a good second.

But this... I have some books that were written in the 1940's and 1950's, books my mother read as a young teenager and woman. A Fatal Flaw has the same style of writing and the same atmosphere. And where this is endearing in those old books, here, it makes the book read as a parody on Agatha Christie. The best word I can find is 'frumpy'. It reads like the first book of a 16-year old with writing aspirations.

I hope Mrs. Martin will finish her next Jenny Starling book soon, so I can read it to make me forget this 'fatal flaw'.

In Oxford in 1960, probationary WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder have yet another case to solve. This time, the pair are mixed up in bizarre behaviour and suspicious deaths involving the Miss Oxford Honey beauty pageant

A fitting addition to the series

A young girl who is taking part in a beauty pageant is found dead having drunk poison. But is this suicide, murder or an unfortunate accident? Trudy, a rookie cop, is approached by an acquaintance who is involved in the running of the pageant to try to get the police to investigate. There are hints of Miss Congeniality to it.

This is of the cosy mystery genre, easy to read and would be good to take on holiday.

It is part of a series but reads well as a stand-alone.

It has an interesting title which accurately reflects what the book is about.

The 2 main characters are very likeable and they have a very endearing relationship. There is Trudy, a rookie cop who is desperate to progress her career and Dr Clement Ryder, an experienced coroner who is desperate to keep his career going despite the onset of Parkinson’s. The way they are portrayed you can empathise with them both.

Very readable and enough of a plot to keep your attention through to the end.

I'm not familiar with Faith Martin's work, but I enjoyed A Fatal Flaw. A contestant in a pageant at Oxford in 1960 is found dead, Who killed her? As a former pageant queen, it's very easy to imagine some contestants resorting to murder. It's a mystery with enough twists to keep your interest. The characters are likeable and engaging. I will read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A great story line with brilliant main characters.. I read this book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.